Cessna U206 accident near Tulare, California, May 5, 1991
On May 5, 1991 at about 8:35 pm local time, a Cessna U206, registered N2160F, was destroyed in an accident near Tulare, California (Mefford Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN IN-FLIGHT FIRE IN THE CABIN/CREW COMPARTMENT AREA OF THE AIRCRAFT, DUE TO FAILURE OF A FUEL LINE LOCATED IN THE LEFT DOORPOST AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 5, 1991 · about 8:35 pm local time
- Place
- Tulare, California · Mefford Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna U206 · all U206s on the register
- Registration
- N2160F · no longer on the register · serial U206-0360
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT AND A PASSENGER WERE RETURNING FROM A SHORT CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT AND THE PILOT DECIDED TO DO A TOUCH AND GO LANDING. AS THE AIRPLANE WAS CLIMBING OUT, THE PASSENGER NOTICED A SMALL FLAME ON THE SIDE PANEL, ABOUT 6 INCHES FORWARD OF THE LEFT DOOR POST. THE PILOT EXECUTED A 180 DEGREE TURN BACK TO THE RUNWAY. THE FLAMES IN THE COCKPIT RAPIDLY SPREAD AROUND THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND UP INTO THE OVERHEAD CEILING. DUE TO THE HEAT AND SMOKE, THE PASSENGER AND PILOT JUMPED FROM THE AIRPLANE AS IT WAS STILL MOVING DOWN THE RUNWAY AT ABOUT 30 MPH. THE UNOCCUPIED AIRPLANE EXITED THE RUNWAY AND ROLLED TO A STOP BETWEEN THE RUNWAY AND TAXIWAY. THE AIRPLANE WAS CONSUMED BY FIRE. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE APPEARED TO BE FROM A FUEL LINE LOCATED IN THE LEFT FRONT DOORPOST AREA. ELECTRICAL WIRING TO THE LANDING AND POSITION LIGHTS WAS ALSO ROUTED THROUGH THE DOOR POST.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 875 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 76 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 803 as pilot in command; 358 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,308 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 3, 1991; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 042 Woodlake CA at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 3,914 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.